Orchard heater



March 8, 932.

R55. UPRIGHT ET AL 5.,?248588 ORCHARD HEATER Filed June lO', 1931 am" i ATTGRNYS Patented Mar. 8, 1932 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y RALPH Ea'UIRIG-HT AN JAMEiSVH. GILLMOR, 0F SAN FERNANDO, CALIFORNIA ORCHARD HEATER Application tiled June 10, 1931. Serial No. 543,369.

' Our invention relates to an orchard heater Vusing solid fuel. n

It is an object of our invention to provide an orchard heater of the solid fuel type sim- '/"fx ple and inexpensive of construction and whichl requires a minimum of attention in its operation.y

Another object is to provide an orchard n. heater that will automatically control the *is draft conditions so that after thel fuel has been burning for a predetermined period and a live bed of coal with a corresponding increase of heat has been attained,v the supply of air for combustion is gradually cut off so p, that less heat-will be given oif by the orchard heater. It is the aim to generate heat quickly to raise the temperature ofthe air in the orchard above the temperature that would inure the fruit and the trees.l When the danger point is passed, less heat is required to maintain the desired temperature conditions. Very large numbers ofheaters are necessary to effectively prevent frost in lorchards and they must be serviced in a minimum amount Y i ofvtime, which service constitutes a diiiicult problem. 'Our 'heater isso designed as to automaticallyslow down the combustion, ad- 'just-able means being provided to regulate the n time factor, The heater has a capacity to 2") `heatfthe orchardl for lone night, say about eight hours. Very often'immediately before sunrise a decided drop in temperature takes place andwe have provided means inv our heater that by an instants manipulation the ai Combustion in the last period can be raised to itsmaximum efficiency so as to maintain the proper temperature conditions in the orchard.

In particular, our heater is provided with a lid which is, in its first period of operation,

W spaced vertically above thetop of the fuel f container and provides a draft opening-for rapid combustion Means are provided to gradually close the lid down upon the containeras the fuel is consumed, and, in addition, the ashes `formed will gradually close draft openings so that theV combustion is adjusted to the temperature conditions in the orchard.

W'ith the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description `proceeds, our invention consists in' the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form ay part of this specifica-tion, we have illustrated a preferred form of an orchard heater embodying our invention and in which:

Fig. l is avertical central section of our orchard heatershowing the position of the lid at the beginning of the operation Fig. 2 is a similar View after the orchard heater has been in operation for some time and the lid has closed down on the top of the fuel container;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detailed section showing the mechanism for swinging the lid bodily to one side of the fuel container. y Y Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a tubular metal casing, preferably cylindrical in form, having a horizontal flange 2 at the bottom which supports the heater on the ground. Spaced from the bottom the wall is provided with an annular groove 3 which may be made by a rolling operation for the reception of any suitable grate 4. The space between the grate 4 and the ground constitutes an ash pit chamber 5. A series of spaced holes 6 are provided in the casing l, admitting air to the ash pit chamber 5.

Immediately above the grate 4, the casing l is provided with a number of primary auxiliary air openings 7 these openings 7 are relatively small and'spaced fairly close together. Approximately midway in the casing l is a series of secondary auxiliary spaced openings 8, and spaced a slight distance from the top, the casing 1 is provided with a series of tertiary auxiliary air openings 9. The air to form a closure for the casing 1 and is proland inwardly therefrom.VV

vided with a handle 11. The same is supported by a lid closing device indicated by 12 as a unit. The same consists of a U-shaped rod having vertical legs 13 adapted to rest on thesolid fuel F andhaving an arcuate connecting rod k14C. `The upper ends of legs 13 pass through the lid and may be vertically adjusted in relation Vthereto by means of nuts 15 and? l1'6'screW-threaded on" the vlegs 18.`

Vertical guides 17 fastened to the inner Wall of the casing 1 receive the legs 13 in'slidalole"v relation. The upper ends ofthe guides 17 are provided With ears 18 extending upwardly "Operati'on; ySolid fuel, suchlas petroleum colic-briquets, egg size, is placed upon the grated; the average quantity for eight hours .operation is about eighteen pounds of such ..fuel.- I Then a'lrindling material for startingYV the briquets, suche as labout one pound of paraiiined peach pits, is placed on topo-fthe briquets; and is ignited by any suitable means. The lid 10 is then 'swung into positionabove V-thecasing,- and the vlidsupport 12- sliding i alongftheguides 17 Will Vcome to rest upon the briquets F as shown in Fig. 1, the lid 10 being spaced from the casing 1 providing an annular outietl) for the hot gases'ofcombustion. lt'should ble noted that the lid support 12 rests on the,fuelfpreferably at the lovverY ends only `as indicated at 12. The arcuate rod 14 serves to take care of any-expansion' ofthelid support 12 and prevents :binding of the vertical legs 13 in the guides 17. Airof combustion v is supplied'through the'open'ings 6, passing .int-o the 'ash pit 5 and through the grate; 1n additioinair through the small openings 7 adjacent the grate 4 Will pass through the pile of briquets. "Additional air is supplied through intermediate openings 8 and upper openingsvQ. YVThis copioussupply of air; will start a vigorous combustion 'and Will consume about three hour. f t i Y, Itis desirable to provide a lar-'ge supply of hot gases for the'` orchard inthe beginning of. the operation. VIn aboutan hours time as the briquets are partially consuinedand settle in the casing 1,"the lidV support12 and lid l() connected theretor will graduallysettle hy gravity so that the lid Willfclosethe top'of the casing as shownin Fig. 2. NOW the upper openings v9 serve vas the outlets for the hot gases ofl combustion. There-Will now be a bed of red hot briquetes on the grate,.and it is now'desirable to moderate the rate of combustion Whichis eifect'ed by theclosingof th-e'lid "10, cutting down .the draft,fand also 4by the pounds ofbriquets during theiirst Vof theashes. vof the orchard heater the quantity of air of combustion passing through the openings 6 1. An orchard heater `comprising a tubular casing open at top and depositofgashes 2Oy Which Will more or less clog up the small airopenings 7 adjacent to the grate 4. Thel grate 4 is provided with an annular solid portion 4 onits periphery, forminga ring-like shelf for the reception At this stage of the operation leading tothe ash pit and through the grate is diminished as the briquets partially consumed and mixed with ashes Will'oifer more resistance to the passage of air therethrough. Additionalfair for combustion passesthrough the openings' 8 as beforebut these openings are above the hed of briquets. The combustion is maintained at thisreduced-rate, which is sutcient to maintain temperature condi-V tions above the point of injury to the orchard. VThe fuel consumption is now from tivo to two V`vand' one-half' pounds per hour and it Will vgraduallyde crea se to one and one-half to one Vpound per hour. It Will he understood that Yconditions of `4atmosphere WillV somewhat .modify the rate of combustion depending Y upon Whetherthe air is still or breezy..v

j Itshould-be noted that lvery little smoke is produced lin our improved orchard heater.`

This is partlyfdue to theadd-itional; air supply through openings 8 kand 'Sabovelthe fuel.

' :When it is y desired to accelerate therate .of Ycombustion Lthis can. be done by' a simple -in- `stantaneous operation in lifting vthe lidl verticallyupward until the lower ends vof the lid support-.'12 engage the ears 18. Thenthe lidand the lid support are tilted toi one side avva'yfrom thecasing 1 as shown in Fig. l.

It is. sometimes desirable just Vbefore sunrise to accelerate the rate of combustion for the reason that-often at this time a decided drop ofternperature takes n lace.

skilledinfthe art yWithout departing from the vspirit of our invention as claimed.

VVe'clairnrv for burning solidfuel bottom and having an ash chamber at the bottom provided with air supplyingmeans, a grate aboverthe ash chamber, said grate having an annular shelf adjacent the casing," a series of relatively small primary air supply .openings slightly 'above and spaced around aboutthe grate in the casing, a series of intermediate spaced openings inthe casinga up otherseries of spaced openings .near the top 'ofthe casing, a lid Vfor the top of the casing, a -vertically.adjustable lid support comprisingL a ,U shaped rod havingv anV intermediate arcuate portiongand adapted to rest on the fuel, guides on thevinner Wallfof theca'sing in which the lid support isslidably disposed, and ears at the upper ends of the guides to permit'the lid to be swung bodily to one side of the casing. if f yVarious changesmay be made vin the vcon- Y struction and (arrangement. of Vparts Aby those 2. An orchard heater for burning solid Y fuel comprising a tubular casing open at the Y casing and adjacent to the shelf, a series of spaced openings in the casing near the top thereof, a lid for the top of the casing, a vertically adjustable lid support normally resting on the fuel, guides for vertical movement of the lid support, and means permitting the lid to be swung bodily to one side of the casing.

3. An orchard heater for burning solid fuel comprising a tubular casing open at the top and provided kwith an ash chamber at the bottom and having air supply means for the ash chamber, a grateabove the ash chamber, a

series of spaced openings in the casing near the top thereof, a lid for the top of the casing, a lid support normally resting on the fuel, guides for the lid support, and means engaging the lid support to permit the lidto be swung bodily to one side of the casing.

4c. An orchard heater for burning solid fuel comprising a tubular casing open at the top and having an ash chamber, a grate, a series of spaced air supply openings in the casing admitting air to the space immediately above the grate, a series of spaced openings in the top of the casing, a lid for the top of the casing, and a lid support normally resting on the fuel and permitting the lid to move into closing position as the fuel burns away.

5. An orchard heater for burning solid fuel comprisinga tubular casing open at the top and having an ash chamber at the bottom provided with air supply means, a grate above the ash chamber, a series of spaced primary air supply openings in the casing permitting air to the space immediately above the grate, a series of spaced openings in the casing in the upper part thereof, a lid for the top of the casing, and a lid support normally resting on the fuel and permitting the lid to move into closing position as the fuel burns away.

6. An orchard heater for burning solid fuel comprising a tubular casing open at the top, an ash chamber at the bottom and having a grate spaced from the lower end thereof, a series of spaced primary air supply openings in the casing adjacent the grate, a series of spaced openings in the casing above said first named openings, a lid for the top, means operatively connected to the top and resting upon the fuel to hold the lid vertically above the top of the casing in the beginning of the operation of the heater by permitting the lid to move into closing position as the fuel burns away.

7 An orchard heater for burning solid fuel comprising a tubular casing open at the top, a grate in the lower end of the casing, air

supply means in the casing above the grate,

a lid for the top of the casing, and means engaging the fuel to hold the lid in spaced relation above the top of the casing at the beginning of the operation of the heater and permitting the lid to move into closing position as the fuel burns away.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

RALPH E. UPRIGHT. JAMES H. GILLMOR. 

